Machine for bending tubes.



No. 632,636. Patented Sept. 5, 1899.

J. w. BRAGGEB. I I MACHINE FDR BENDING TUBES.

(Application filed Dec. 15 1898.? (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet l.

' (lbl'ozmm Patented Sept. 5; I899.

J. W. BBAGGER.

MACHINE FOB BENDING TUBES.

(Application filed Dec. 15. 1898,)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

g v mow jwtoz/ w i 5M 9426M W No. 632,636. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

J. W. BRAGGER.'

MACHINE FDR BENDING TUBES.

(Application filed Dec. 15, 1898.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

N Patented Sept 5, I899.

J. W. BRAGGER.

MACHINE FOR BENDING TUBES.

(Application filed Dec. 15. 1893.1 (No Model) 4 Sheets-$heei 4.

35 mm @iwowb/oz 5% W54 lNiTnn STATES PATENT rerun.

JOHN lV. BRAGGER, OF WATERTOlVN, NEl V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFERSON BRASS WORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR BENDING TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,636, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed December 15. 1898. Serial No. 699,298. (No model.)

To all whom it Huey concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. Bnnecnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Bending Tubes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for bending tubes; and it consistsin mechanism whereby one end of a tube to be bent is held stationary and adjacent to a magazine containing spherical balls, which are adapted to be forced through the tube and made to follow in contact with the end of a mandrel which has been previously passed through the tube, said balls being fed forward through the tubing simultaneously with the swinging of the mandrel in the act of bending the pipe and forcing the mandrel out of the tubing after the latter has been bent to the desired angle.

A further part of the invention relates to means whereby the bent portion of the tube is prevented from bursting while the mandrel is being driven out of the pipe by means of the forward movement of the spherical balls, which are forced through the bend in the tube and against the end of the mandrel. This mechanism comprises a form which is automatically brought into contact with the curved surface of the pipe already bent simultaneously with the forward movement of a plunger which drives the spherical balls through and the mandrel out of the pipe.

A further part of the invention relates to the provision of mechanism, in a tube-bending machine, for automatically locking the reinforcing-form against the bent portion of the pipe while the mandrel is being forced out and releasing the same as the mandrel returns to its starting position.

Another part of the invention consists in the provision of a magazine which is adapted to contain the spherical balls, which are forced forward by means of a plunger, said magazine having a slightly-longitudinal movement and carrying at its forward end a collar adapted to fit the flanged end of the pipe to be bent, said pipe being' gripped and firmly held by means of an operating lever and toggle-joint mechanism previous to the forward movement of the magazine.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists, further, in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims. I

My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon form a part of this application, and in which drawings similar letters of referenceindicate like parts throughout the several Views, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of my tube-bending machine, showing the position of various parts previous to the bending of the tube. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, showing the relative arrangement of the parts after the tube has been bent to the desired angle. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine, showing the geared wheels whereby power is applied to the machine. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sect-ion through the magazine and the tube held thereby and adjacent portions holding the magazine and the clamping-gear in contact with the tubing, said View showing the mandrel held within the tube and adjacent to the end of the collar carried by the magazine. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the machine, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the cam-wheels mounted on the main operating-shaft. Fig. 7 is a similar view of a second cam-wheel having a groove of a distinct shape and ,also mounted on the main operating-shaft, and Fig. 8 is a detail view in section showing the manner of attachment of a swinging plate to a geared wheel.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the framework of the machine, which is mounted on suitable legs A, and on brackets A fastened to said frame, is the operating-shaft B, which shaft is provided with a gear-wheel.

B, the teeth of which mesh with the worm B to which power is transmitted from the pulley 13 which may be driven fromany source of supply of power.

Keyed to the main operating-shaft are the cam-wheels C and O, which wheels have distinctive cam-grooves C and 0 respectively, preferably of a shape as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Mounted to travel in the groove C in said cam-wheel C is an antifriction-roller C, which is mounted on a stubshaft C carried in the end of the slide 0 which slide is adapted to reciprocate in the dovetailed groove D in the bed of the frame. 0 is a lug integral with said slide C and carries an adj usting-screw G which is adapted to bear against the end of the plate D,which is provided with an elongated slot and held to the slide by means of a bolt D passed through said plate D'and slide (1. The forward end of said plate D has a projection D through which passes a bolt 01, engaging with the slide 0 and preventing any lateral movement or turning of said plate D. Mounted horizontally in the aperture in said projection D is a plunger D which extends forward and in alinement with the bore of the magazine E, which magazine is provided to contain the spherical balls E is cylindrical in shape and open at its ends, has a slight longitudinal movement within the bore of the plate F, which is secured to the frame of the machine by means of bolts F, and the forward end of said magazine is externally threaded to receive the flanged nut F which is provided to hold the flanged collar F to the end of said magazine, this detail being clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Pivoted on a bolt g on the top of the frame is the angle-plate G, which is provided with a diagonally-disposed slot G at the end of its laterally-projecting arm G and its other end is forked and straddles the end of the magazine and has its arms apertured, as at G and designed to engage with the integral lugs G on diametrically opposite sides of said maga-' zine, whereby as the said plate G rocks on its pivot g the magazine is given a slight longitudinal movement for a purpose which will be presently described.

Mounted on the bed of the frame and slidin g in suitable guideways or dovetailed grooves is the plate H, which plate carries at its inner end the jaw H, which is bolted to said plate, as at h. This jaw has one of its forward corners rounded, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, which show a top plan view of the same, and has its longitudinal edge, which .merges into the curved corner, and one end con caved, forming a suitable member to grip about a portion of the circumference of the pipe to be bent. Opposite the concaved end of said jaw is mount? ed a longitudinally-adjustable block K, which is held to the frame by means of bolts K.

This block has elongated apertures in which.

are disposed said bolts, which are rigidly This magazine E, which held to the frame, said apertures being provided for the purpose of allowing a slight longitudinal movement to said block, and an adj USlilIlg-SCIGW K mounted in an upwardlyprojecting lug K is provided, which may be screwed up against the end of said block in order to hold it securely in a fixed position. Between the concaved ends of said jaw H and block K the end of the tube to be bent is designed to be securely held during the bending process. The plateHis moved backward and forward by means of a toggle-joint comprising the links H and H which are pivoted together and secured to the plates H and H respectively, a lever H forming a part of link H", as illustrated. This block H has an upwardly-projecting lug H which is apertured to receive a bolt H which forms a pivot to which the forked end H of the link H is pivoted. The forked or inner end of said plate H has bolted securely thereto a plate H which has integral lugs 11*, which are apertured to receive a bolt forming a pivotal connection between said lug and the link H and is pivoted to the link H thus completing the mechanism forming the toggle-joint. Secured to the edge of the frame adjacent to the block H is an adj usting-bolt H the inner end of which is adapted to bear against the end of said block H in order to hold it in a fixed position. On a lateral projection H on said. plate H is a lug h, which extends through the diagonally-disposed aperture G in the arm G of the angle-lever G, whereby as the toggle-lever is worked back and forth the link H is reciprocated and said angle-lever caused to rock slightly on its pivot g, which movement imparts a longitudinal motion to the magazine.

Pivoted on a stationary axis and in a horizontal position directly underneath the forward end of the magazine and the clampingjaws designed to hold the end of the tube to be bent is a geared wheel L, and securely bolted or otherwise fastened to said wheel L is ablock or plate M, and adjustablymounted so as to have a slight longitudinal movement is a block M, the forward or inner end of which is concaved to conform to the circumference of the tube against which said block or plate M is designed to bear during the bending process. Immediately behind said plate M and integral with plate M is a lug IIO M which carries an adjusting-screw M which is adapted to bear against the rear end of the adjusting-block to holdthe same in a fixed or adjusted position. This block M, which is bolted to the geared wheel L, is designed to turn with the wheel and assume a position at right angles to its starting position. Bolted orotherwise securely fastened to the said block M is the plate N, which has in.- tegral lugs N, which are apertured to receive the mandrel O, and a series of cog-teeth N may be either integral with said mandrel or a rack-bar securely fastened to said mandrel, and N is a shoulder on the mandrel, which limits its inner throw by coming in contact with one of the lugs N, forming a part of the plate N. Mounted on a vertically-disposed stud P on the block M is a geared wheel P, the teeth of which are'designed to mesh with the teeth on the mandrel O, and loosely journaled on said stud is an operating-lever Q, which has a lug Q, which is adapted to strike against a similar lug Q which is carried by the gear-wheel P for the purpose of rotating said gear-wheel in the act of imparting a longitudinal movement to the mandrel.

Mounted in the cam-groove 0 in the wheel 0, which is keyed to the main operatingshaft, is an antifriction-roller R,which roller is carried by the sliding plate R. This plate R is mounted in a dovetailed portion of the frame, as shown at R in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and bolted or otherwise fastened to said sliding plate is a rack-bar S, having a series of teeth S on its edge, which are designed to mesh with the teeth of the geared wheel L, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In order to rigidly hold and guide said rack, I provide a block Y, which carries an antifriction-roller Y, mounted thereon,which roller is adapted to contact with the back face of said rack-bar, being located, preferably,opposite the contact-point of the rack and gear. This block may be adjusted by means of the set-screw Z, as shown clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Mounted in a dovetailed slot and adapted to travel longitudinally in the frame and in a direction at right angles to the magazine is a sliding block T, and mounted adjacent to one of its forward corners is a reinforcingblock T, having its corner adjacent to the bent portion of the tube concaved or channeled to conform to the circumference or shape of the tube which has been bent. This block T is drawn forward by means of the spring T which is connected at one end to a stud T fastened to the swinging block M, while its other end is secured to the plate T, as at T. This reinforcing-block is provided for the purpose of preventing the bursting of the tube which has been previously bent, coming in contact with the curved portion of the tube, while the mandrel is being forced out of the tube in advance of the balls, which are driven forward by means of the plunger, and it will therefore be observed that this reinforcingblock performs no function whatever, either in the bending of the pipe or in the finishing of the same. In order to hold said reinforcing-block in its forward position and adjacent to the curve in the pipe while the mandrel is being driven out, I provide a locking-bar J, which in its locking position is thrown forward and assumes a position behind the lug Q, which is secured to the plate T, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This locking-bar J is fastened to the stud J in any suitable manner, it being shown in the drawings as secured by means of a set-screw J ,and fastened to the stud .3 is an arm J between the free end of which arm and the frame is disposed a spring J provided for the purpose of throwing the locking-bar out of the path of the lug Q, which travels with the plate T. Fastened to said stud J 2 is a screw-threaded apertured arm J carrying an adjusting-screw J, the inner end of which is disposed in the path of the rack-bar S and struck by the latter as the rack-bar is driven forward at each revolution of the cam-wheel. By adjusting this screw the throw of the locking-bar may be regulated, and the movement of the plate T is so regulated with reference to the forward movement of the rack-bar that said plate will always be drawn down to the position shown in Fig. 2 or at its lowest limit before the rack-bar strikes the adj Listing-screw J which causes the locking-bar J to be thrown over or behind the stud Q, which securely holds said plate so that its lower corner, carrying the reinforcing-block,will be held rigidly against the bend in the pipe.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The tube to be bent, (shown clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings and lettered X,) which is provided with a shouldered portion X, is inserted between the locking'jaw H, and the block K and in alinement with the bore in the magazine, after which the operating-lever H is depressed, which causes the toggle-joint to force the said jawforward to grip the tube about its flanged portion simultaneously with the forward movement of the magazine,which carries the collar at its end adapted to be inserted in the flanged end of the said tube, this forward movement of the magazine being caused by the rocking of the angle-lever G, which is connected at its forked ends to said magazine and actuated by means of the lug h, which travels in the diagonal slot in the arm of said lever G. The tube thus held between the jaw and the adjustable block K, with the collar held within the flanged end of the tube, the next step is the inserting of the mandrel in the outer end of the tube, this being effected by manipulating the lever Q, which rotates the geared wheel P, meshing with the rackbar on the shank of the mandrel. inserted in the magazine, are now ready to be advanced so that the forward one of said balls will contact with the end of the mandrel held within the tubing, said balls being in contact with one another, and in the position described the main operating-shaft is rotated and with it the cam U, which by the peculiar contour of its cam-groove carrying the antifriction-roller, which is connected with the slide D, will cause said slide to be driven forward slightly in advance of the forward movement of the slide carrying the rack-bar. As said plate D is driven forward the piunger carried thereby will force the balls forward through the magazine, so that the forward ball will contact with the end of the mandrel, at which moment the slide carrying the rack-bar will be driven forward and in its The halls, which have been previously.

IIO

Ils

forward movement will cause the geared wheel L to rotate, and the block M, which is rigidly held to said geared wheel, will begin to swing and carry with it the mandrel, which has its forward end inserted in the tube to be bent. At the moment said mandrel begins to bend the pipe the plunger D advances the balls through the tubing, forcing same atthe same rate of speed that the mandrel travels and always causing the advance ball to contact with the end of said mandrel during the entire bending operation. After the mandrel has finished its bending operation and assumes a position adjacent to the toggle-lever, in which position it is substantially at right angles to its starting position, the next step is to draw the mandrel out of the tubing. Previous, however, to the driving out of the mandrel the block T has been advanced to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings by means of the spring T, in which position the reinforcing-block T, carried by the block T, is brought so that its concaved corner comes in contact withthe bent portion of the tube and is held rigidly in this position by means of the locking-bar J, which after the reinforcing member has been ad vanced to its farthest limit is turned on its pivot so as to bear against the rear side of the lug Q, this locking member being tiltedby means of the rack-bar, which strikes against the adjusting-screw J", which is carried by the lug J which is keyed to and rotates with the stud J carrying said lockingbar. The reinforcing member thus being held rigidly about the curved surface of the bent portion of the pipe, the plunger in the further rotation of the cam-wheel C will force the balls forward and drive the mandrel out of the tubing, and the advance balls which follow the mandrel will drop out of the bent tube and fall into a receptacle, (not shown,) which maybe held underneath the end of the tube adjacent to the end of the mandrel. The tube thus being bent and the mandrel driven out in the manner described, the camwheels finish their revolutions, and at the moment the rack-bar begins its backward movement thelocking-lever J will be thrown out of the path of the lug Q, this allowing the plate T to resume the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, said plate T being forced back by the corner of the block M adjacent to the spring connected therewith contacting with the inner end of said plate, as will be readily understood. As the rack-bar begins its return movement the gear-wheel L rotates in the reverse direction from that before described and the block M, carrying the mandrel, swings back to the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the mandrel will be in alinement with the bore in the magazine. As the camwheel C completes its revolution the plunger, which is connected with the antifriction-roller, which travels in the groove of the said wheel, will return to its starting position, and the pipe is now ready to be released from the jaw and adjacent block or chine in a slightly-inclined position, or said 7 balls may be returned in any other suitable way, as by the hand of the operator. The two advance balls utilized in the bending op' eration, which balls have dropped out into the receptacle, are inserted in the magazine before the operation is repeated for bending the next tube.

XVhile I have shown and described a machine adapted to make ninety-degree bends, it is my purpose to make pipes of various degrees, which may be accomplished by utilizing various cams,which are adapted to shorten or lengthen the throw of the rack-bar which actuates the mandrel-carrying plate and by changing the shape of the concave formingsurface of the jaw which is actuated by the toggle-lever.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A machine for bending pipes, in which independent balls are forced through the pipe to be bent, and made to follow the end of a mandrel during the bending operation.

2. A machine for bending pipes, in which balls are forced through the pipe to be bent, and made to follow in contact with the end of a mandrel, while the latter bends the pipe about a former, as set fort-h.

3. A machine for bending pipes in which balls are forced through the pipe to be bent made to follow in contact with the end of a mandrel inserted in the pipe as said mandrel is caused to swing and have a slight longitudinal movement in the pipe during the bending operation.

. 4:. A machine for bending pipes, in which balls are contained within a magazine and forced through the pipe to be bent, which is held to receive the balls as they are driven from the magazine, said balls being made to follow in contact with the end of a mandrel as the latter bends the pipe about a former, as set forth.

5. In a pipe-bending machine, the stationary and the sliding clamping-jaw, a flanged collar engaging a pipe held by said jaws, a former forming a part of said sliding jaw, a mandrel and swinging member carrying the same, and means for operating the latter while the jaws are held stationary, and in a clamping relation as set forth.

6. In a pipe-bending machine, clamping mechanism for holding the pipe to be bent, a magazine and a collar carried thereby, which collar is designed to engage with one end of the pipe, and a mandrel inserted in the other end of said pipe, a grooved former, into whose groove the pipe is bent as the mandrel is caused to swingtoward saidform er,and means for operating the machine, as set forth.

7. In a machine for bending pipes, the clamping members designed to hold one end of the pipe to be bent, a longitudinally-movable magazine carrying a collar adapted to slide in one end of the pipe and the mandrel inserted from the other end of said pipe, and the balls and means for simultaneously forcing the latter through the pipe and operating the mandrel, as set forth.

8. In a machine for bending pipes, clamping mechanism for holding one end of the pipe to be bent, amagazine containing balls, a collar carried at the end of said magazine, means for imparting a longitudinal movement to the latter, a mandrel inserted in the tube, a swinging block carrying said mandrel, a plunger for advancing the balls, and means for actuating said plunger and mandrel-carrying block, as set forth.

9. In a pipe-bending machine, the clam ping members designed to hold one end of the pipe to be bent, a former, a toggle-joint, and lever for operating the same, said former mounted to move longitudinally, a magazine and balls carried therein, a pivoted plate connected at one end to the magazine, and rocked on its pivot, as the toggle-lever is operated, combined with the mandrel, and means for operating same, and the plunger and driving mechanism for advancing the balls, as shown and described.

10. In a pipe-bending machine, the clamping members designed to hold one end of the pipe to be bent, a grooved former, a togglejoint and lever for operating the same, combined with a magazine mounted to move longitudinally and balls carried therein, a plunger for advancing said balls inthe magazine and through the pipe to be bent, a pivoted plate having connection at one end with said magazine, and provided with a diagonallydisposed slot in which a lug, carried by the toggle-joint mechanism travels, and the mandrel and means for swinging same, as set forth.

11. In a pipe-bending machine, the clamping members for holding one end of the pipe to be bent, the toggle-joint and lever, the magazine and pivoted plate for actuating the same, the plunger and longitudinally-movable slide carrying said plunger, the operating-shaft and cam-wheel and connections between the latter and said slide, combined with the mandrel and pivoted mandrel-carrying block, and means for swinging said block, as the balls are being forced through the tube, as shown and described.

12. In a pipe-bending machine, the clamping members for holding the pipe, the magazine, the plunger and slide carrying the latter, the operating-shaft, the cam-wheel mounted to turn thereon, an antifrictionroller traveling in a groove in said wheel,

rotary geared wheel and m andrel-carrying block secured thereto, a mandrel and means for rotating the geared wheel, as shown and described.

13. In a pipe-bending machine, the clamp ing members for holding the pipe to be bent, a magazine, the plunger, and slide carrying the latter, the operating-shaft, the cam-wheel mounted thereon, for actuating the slide, combined with a rotary geared wheel and a block secured thereto, a mandrel mounted on said block and a rackbar engaging with the teeth of the geared wheel and means for imparting a longitudinal movement to said rack-bar, as shown and described.

14. In a pipe-bending machine, the clamping members for holding the pipe to be bent, a magazine, the plunger, and slide carrying the latter, the operating-shaft, the cam-wheel mounted thereon for actuating the slide, combined with a rotary geared Wheel and block secured thereto, a mandrel mounted on said block and a rack-bar engaging with the teeth of the geared wheel and the slide to which the rack-bar is attached, and cam-wheel for actuating same, as shown and described.

15. In a pipe-bending machine, the combination with the clamping members for holding the pipe to be bent, the magazine, and

balls, the plunger and means for operating same, the mandrel inserted in the pipe, and mandrel-carrying block, and a reinforcing sliding plate and means for advancing same so as to contact with the pipe after the latter is bent and while the balls are forcing the mandrel out of the pipe, as set forth.

16. In a pipe-bending machine, the combination with the pipe-clamping members, the magazine, the balls, the plunger and means for operating the same, the geared wheel, the mandrel and block carrying the mandrel secured to said wheel, the rack-bar meshing with the latter, and operating mechanism for reciprocating the rack-bar, a sliding plate and reinforcing-block mounted thereon, connection between said plate and the mandrelcarrying block, whereby as the latter swings forward, the reinforcing-block is drawn forward so that the recessed portion will bear against the pipe after the latter has been bent, and means for holding said reinforcing-block in such position while the mandrel is being driven out of the pipe, as set forth.

17. In combination with the clamping members, the magazine, the balls, the plunger and means for operating same, the geared wheel, the mandrel and mandrel-carrying block secured to said wheel, the rack-bar and mechanism for driving the same, the reinforcingblock, and the sliding plate on which said block is mounted, a spring connecting the latter with the mandrel-carrying block, and a locking-bar, which is swung into a locking position as said sliding plate reaches the limit of its forward movement, as set forth.

18. In combination with the clamping memand connected to the slide, combined with a i hers, the magazine, the balls, the plunger and means for operating the same, the geared wheel, the mandrel and mandrel-carrying block secured to said wheel, the rack-bar and mechanism for driving same, the sliding plate and reinforcing-block carried thereon, means for advancing the reinforcing-plate, and a tilting locking-bar, designed to be thrown behind a lug on the plate carrying the reinforcing-plate, said locking-bar being tilted by the rack-bar, as shown and described.

19. In combination with the reinforcingblock and sliding plate carrying the same, the reciprocating rack-bar and means for operating same, the geared wheel and mandrelcarrying block secured thereto, the spring connecting the said sliding plate with the mandrel-carryin g block, the stud and locking-bar turning therewith, and a set-screw fastened to said stud and disposed in the path of the rack-bar, and designed to swing the lockingbar behind. a lug on said plate, as shown and described.

20. In combination with the sliding reinforcing-block-carrying plate, the stud and locking-bar secured thereto, a rack-bar and means for actuatingthe same,an arm mounted on said stud, a set-screw carried by said arm.

designed to be struck by the end of the rackbar, and a spring-actuated member connected 7 to the stud for returning the locking-bar to its normal position, as set forth.

21. In combination with the slide 0 the adjustable block secured thereto, a projection D and plunger carried therein, and a setscrew mounted in a lug on said slide and designed to contact with the end of the block, as shown and described.

22. In combination with the mandrel-carrying block, the mandrel carried in a bracket thereon, a rack-bar secured to said mandrel,

a shoulder of the mandrel engaging the edge 

